RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17644, 23 November 1917, Page 5

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

A SEPARATE PEACE. ARMISTICE TO BE ASKED FOR. INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter. (Received November 22, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, November 22. A wireless Russian official message states:—The ■ All Russia Congress of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delefeatles has ordered tho Council of People's Commissaries to assume power to offer all belligerents an immediate armistice for the purpose of opening pourparlers for a democratic peace. This offer is firmly established in all important districts of the country. A draft message to this effect has already been communicated to the Allied plenipotentiaries in Russia. Meanwhile the Council has ordered the Commander-in-Chief forthwith to offer the enemy commanders an armistice for the purpose of peace pourparlers, and to keep tho Council informed telegraphically of the progress_ of pourparlers and to sign tho preliminary act only after tho Council has approved. Tho above communique is signed by M. Lenin, prcsidfnt of the Council. M. Trotzky,' Minister of Foreign Affairs, and three others. BLOW TO NEW GOVERNMENT. ARMIES AT FRONT REFUSE ■ . RECOGNITION!' (Received November 22, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, November 22. A Petrograd wireless message reports :—All armies at the front have refused to recognise the new Government and Kaledin's march on the capital continues. WEARY OF THE WAR. "The Time*" Seme*. STOCKHOLM, November 21. The "National Tidende" says that Russia will shortly withdraw from official participation in the war. The Bolsheviks are increasing in influence, and the entire people are utterly weary of tho war. Polish troops are guarding th 0 Petrograd Embassies. A GERMAN ASSERTION. " The Times" Service. BERLIN, November 21. Official circles assert that tho new Russian Government has offered to conclude a separate peace. The press foreshadows an immediate transfer of German troops to tho wost front, preparatory to a resumption of tho offensive on a grand scale. THE POLISH LEGION. REFUSE TO TAKE OATH. AMSTERDAM,,November 21. Three thousand soldiers of tho Polish Legion who refused to swear the oath of allegiance to tho > Central Powors wero interned at Kalicz. A section of tho Poles accused the rest of high treason to the Polish cause, and a fight occurred, thirty being killed and 200 wounded. Tho camp building was destroyed by fire. ANARCHY IN FINLAND. "The Times" Service. STOCKHOLM, November 21. Reports from Finland state that an anarchic*! mob, displacing the Socialist leaders, is committing all kinds of excesses.